Agenda item

To receive an update on the corporate risks managed by the Director of Resources.

Consideration was given to an update provided by the Director of Resources on the five risks within the corporate risk Register which had been allocated to him.  It was explained that the assessment and management of the risk depended on the specific risk in question although as all the risks had been corporate in nature there had been a measure of commonality of approach to the management of the individual risk.

The Director had responsibility for the following risks:

·       Information Governance;

·       Health Safety and Wellbeing;

·       Finance and Resources;

·       Workforce/Succession Planning; and

·       Rising Energy Costs

In respect of Information Governance, it was explained that the Authority took information governance very seriously and had robust policies and systems in place to ensure that sensitive data was protected.  The Authority had a Senior Information Risk Officer and a Designated Data Protection Officer in place along with an Information Governance and Security Group at which each directorate was represented.  In addition, appropriate IT security software had been installed and maintained on all Authority devices as part of the wider cyber security arrangements.  All staff and elected members had been given training on information governance and what needed to be done in the event of a data breach. 

In respect of Health, Safety and Wellbeing it was explained that a failure to ensure that safe working practices were in place could potentially result in loss or damage to the organisation, its employees or the public.  The Authority had a strong set of health and safety policies, controls and practices in place which had been supported by suitably qualified Health and Safety professionals.  Reference was made to the established programme of testing, refining and improving arrangements along with regular reports submitted to the Senior Leadership Team.  It was explained that training in relation to Health and Safety was mandatory for all staff, with specialised training for those staff who required it.

In respect of the risks associated with Finance and Resources it was explained that significant historic reductions in core funding and the ongoing uncertainty in relation to funding beyond 2022/23 along with a patchwork of funding for health and social care and school funding had the potential for the Authority to be unable to plan to ensure that it remained financially stable.  It was explained that a regime of regular budget monitoring had been carried out by the Committee, Cabinet and the Finance Sub Committee.  In addition to the formal member involvement a range of internal meetings involving the Senior Leadership Team and Cabinet Members ensured further oversight of the budget monitoring process.  It was also explained that the finance team had suitably qualified and experienced finance professionals who worked with regional and national counterparts to ensure that the latest accounting standards and best practice had been adhered to and this had been supplemented by checks carried out by Internal and External Audit and reported to the Audit Committee. 

Reference was made to the risks associated with workforce/succession planning and ensuring that they met the needs of the Authority.  It was explained that there had been national shortages in relation to some areas of staffing in local government which had also affected the Authority.  A key element of the approach to ensuring that teams were appropriately staffed had been the Authority’s Workforce Plan which was in the process of being updated.  A new approach to recruitment had been developed which looked at different approaches to attract and retain staff.

The final risk related to rising energy costs as a result of the volatile market conditions and the global increase in energy costs.  It was explained that the Authority worked closely with other authorities to procure gas and electricity on a regional basis via the North East Purchasing Organisation.  In addition the Authority had undertaken a range of activities to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings and assets.  Support had also been provided to residents in relation to energy efficiency. 

Resolved that the update be noted